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Early life

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Early life research

Big data to improve the quality of early life

Our data platform on early life research:

  • Provides a linked data resource to support research that generates real-world evidence to drive improvements in the health, development and wellbeing of mothers and children.

  • Includes information on the 1.7 million children born in NSW 2001–2019 and their parents.

  • Includes state (NSW) and federal data collections including 20 administrative data collections including health (hospital, emergency visit, medicine dispensing, controlled drugs, cancer, mental health, Medicare), perinatal (births, neonatal admissions, deaths), education (national testing, development census) and social security benefits data.

  • More detail can be found here:

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Applying to use the Early Life Course PlatformÌý

  1. Contact: Make contact with us at elc@unsw.edu.au.
  2. Consultation: Researchers consult with the Steering Committee to ensure that their proposed research aligns with the platform's objectives, is feasible within its scope and restrictions, and that the research team possesses the necessary resources and expertise. At least one member of the Steering Committee must be included as an investigator on the research; this agreement is obtained before submitting an EOI.
  3. Expression of Interest (EOI): Researchers submit an Expression of Interest form, which undergoes review by the Steering Committee. Any necessary revisions are made, and the final EOI is tabled for approval at a Steering Committee meeting.
  4. ELC Project Approval: The Lead Researcher of the project prepares the ELC Project Form, including full project details that will be required for formal approvals.
  5. Ethics and Custodian Approvals: A request for amendment to be submitted to the ethics committee is prepared by the steering committee member responsible for the project. Requests for approval from data custodians are also prepared and submitted.
  6. ELC Data Access Approvals: Once ethical and custodian approvals are obtained, the lead researcher submits an ELC Project Data Access Form agreeing to the projects, ethical and legal obligations. Individual undertakings are also completed by each researcher accessing the platform. Access to the platform is granted upon completion of these approvals. Projects outside ¹úÃñ²ÊƱ also require a contract between institutions.

Publications

Publications from research projects using the Early Life Course PlatformÌý

  • Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy Use in Pregnancy

    Summary

    In this cohort study of 1.7 million pregnancies in New South Wales, Australia; New Zealand; Norway; and Sweden from 2015 to 2020, use of varenicline and bupropion during pregnancy was low, while prescription nicotine replacement therapy was used during a larger proportion of pregnancies. For most pregnancies in which these medications were used, use occurred at least partly during the first trimester.

    Robijn AL, Tran DT, Cohen JM, Donald S, Cesta CE, Furu K, Parkin L, Pearson SA, Reutfors J, Zoega H, Zwar N, Havard A. Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy Use in Pregnancy. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jun 3;7(6):e2419245.

  • Summary

    The Early Life Course data platform was established to support research that generates real-world evidence to drive improvements in the health, development and wellbeing of mothers and children.

    The Early Life Course data platform has been approved by human research ethics committees to conduct studies across three research themes: prescribed medication use in pregnant women and children; pregnancy and perinatal health; and child health, development and wellbeing. Research studies proposing to use the platform are subject to approval by the platform steering committee, relevant human research ethics committees and, in some cases, data custodians.

    The Early Life Course data platform comprises real-world population-based administrative and registry data on health, education and social services for 1.7 million children born during 2001–19 in New South Wales, the most populous state of Australia, and their parents

    Tran DT, Robijn AL, Varney B, Zoega H, Brew BK, Chambers GM, Falster K, Lingam R, Pearson SA, Havard A. Data Resource Profile: The Early Life Course data platform for research on perinatal and early childhood exposures and outcomes in Australia. Int J Epidemiol. 2024 Feb 14;53(2):dyae045. .